The European Union is adopting a “better safe than sorry” approach to health crises with its new Medical Countermeasures Strategy, launched on July 9, in Strasbourg, France. The plan aims to boost preparedness by ensuring constant access to vital tools like vaccines, treatments, diagnostics, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
“Today, we are reinforcing Europe’s protective shield in a more unpredictable world,” said Hadja Lahbib, EU Commissioner for Preparedness. “We are making preparedness our new way of life—the European way of life—to keep people safe, healthy and confident about the future.”
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 marked one of the greatest global health challenges in recent history. But it was neither the first nor the last virus to threaten human populations—and today, infectious diseases may be more disruptive than ever before.
While future pandemics are inevitable, there are proactive steps we can take to anticipate and reduce their impact. Click through this gallery to learn why another pandemic is inevitable, and how we can stop it in its tracks.